Image Problem: CorelDraw handles but Illustrator cannot

Question

Hi,
We work for News media(print), we have subscribed for graphics data from another firm, this firm produces graphics for Web/Print.
Today we have receieved some graphics in PDF format(often), These graphics are usually done in Coreldraw or Illustrator.
We have to change certain spelling errors and colours to suit our print, i used to open the pdf in illustrator and change the colour and font, these graphics also contain images.
Everything was going fine, until now almost all the graphics (pdf format) when open in Illustrator, the images in the graphic appear as torn or to say corrupted(apperances), but the same graphic(in pdf format) when opened in Coreldraw, the images in graphics appear fine.
Why this problem happens in Illustrator.
We use Illustrator CS3 and CorelDraw X4.
Some of the techie guys told me it has to do with resolution of the images where Coreldraw handles pictures well of low resolution and illustrator cannot.
Here below the first graphic which was open in Illustrator shows the images in graphics as torn but in bottom graphic which was openen in Coreldraw shows images are fine.
Any solution.
Thanks

Answer 1

Hello iebng,
In my experience, when you open a PDF file made with QuarkXpress, CorelDraw or other program other than Illustrator, you may experience problems opening them in illustrator. This is due to the way a PDF was saved and/or the original program.
The most common issue is the color, specially when the designer used RGB instead of CMYK color system.
This does not mean that Illustrator is the problem. Again, sometimes depends on how the PDF file was created. But also you have to considered that Adobe Illustrator CS3 have some minor issues handling PDF files (CS4 version is worse)
QuarkXpress is very picky handling the fonts. For example: Quark does not accept Helvetica font provide by different companies. In other words, if you Helvetica Regular font from two different companies the file can have some conflicts: therefore will affect the PDF file creating a problem when open it in illustrator. Illustrator ignores the company or font type (Postscript, True, or Open) and replaced it with the Helvetica font that you have in your system.
As you can see in your provided samples, the text looks out of place, bolder, bigger, etc., and the colors have shifted.
One of the solution I think can help you, is to ask the designers that when possible supply the artwork using Postscript fonts, True Fonts, or Open Fonts. Whichever works for you the best. Also give a set of specific fonts to be use in their projects.
But you can always ask the designer to correct the typos and send a PDF file with outlined fonts.
I think is best to keep using both programs and use them per PDF file furnished. But for printing, you cannot accept low resolution images (300 PDI only).
Portable Document Format files are good, but needs a lot of improvement for the printing industry. All the software and computer companies should agree in one standard color system, link file handling, etc. to avoid the problems that all of us we are having.